Definition
Legal, sociopolitical, clinical, and moral definitions differ significantly, but generally in most jurisdictions, any unwanted sexual attack or attempt which may or may not involve force – such as fondling, grabbing, or verbal threats – is considered a sexual assault, while rape is an aggravated form of sexual assault in which penetration is involved.
Introduction
The investigation of sexual assault differs significantly from other criminal investigations in many ways. Nonreporting and delayed reporting are very common in sexual assault cases. Even the victims who choose to report the crime may not be in a physically and mentally stable condition. False allegations are also a common phenomenon.
On the other hand, physical and forensic evidence needed to prove assault deteriorates quickly with time. Following standard protocols used for investigating other crimes can be a dangerous pitfall in sexual assault cases. This necessitates a great deal of care on the part of the...
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References
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Further Readings
National Forensic Science Technology Center. (2013). Crime scene investigation: A guide for law enforcement. Largo: National Forensic Science Technology Center. Available from https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/documents/forensics/Crime-Scene-Investigation.pdf
Savino, J. O., & Turvey, B. E. (2011). Rape investigation handbook (2nd ed.). Amsterdam: Elsevier.
Searles, P., & Berger, R. J. (2018). Rape and society: Readings on the problem of sexual assault. New York: Routledge.
Silke, A. (2001). Review of criminal profiling: An introduction to behavioral evidence analysis by Brent Turvey. Crime Prevention & Community Safety, 2001(3/2), 81–82. Retrieved October 25, 2019 from https://www.academia.edu/13068585/Review_of_Brent_Turvey_Criminal_Profiling_An_Introduction_to_Behavioral_Evidence_Analysis
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Ali, R., Perveen, S. (2020). Investigations: Sexual Assault. In: Shapiro, L., Maras, MH. (eds) Encyclopedia of Security and Emergency Management. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69891-5_184-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69891-5_184-1
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